School infrastructure to be improved

[sajiv]

TUTICORIN: A sum of Rs. 1,500 crore had been sanctioned under a National Bank for Agricultural and Rural Development (NABARD) scheme for implementing educational schemes in the State, School Education Minister Thangam Thennarasu said here on Saturday.Addressing a conference organised as part of the Anna birth centenary celebrations, he said that the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) was also being utilised to spread literacy.

Tuticorin Education District had been sanctioned Rs. 8.65 crore and Kovilpatti Education District Rs. 7.47 crore for improving infrastructure in schools. While donations for elementary schools in the district in the past five years totalled to nearly Rs. 47 crore, a sum of Rs. 64 crore had been collected for this conference, he said.

He also assured school teachers that in cases where charges of rough handling were levelled against them, no action would be initiated without prima facie evidence.V. Radhika Selvi, Minister of State for Home Affairs, noted that dearness allowance had been increased to assist the teaching fraternity in Tamil Nadu. The State Government was taking adequate steps to wipe out illiteracy. A sum of Rs. 40,000 was earmarked for each district to ensure the availability of potable water at schools from November 14.

P. Perumalsamy, Director of School Education, said 10 similar conferences would be held this year. R. Palaniyandi, District Collector; P. Bright Xavier, Chief Education Officer; K. Devarajan, Director, Elementary Education; R. Kasthuri Thangam, Mayor; N. Periyasamy, Committee Member, Tuticorin Port Trust, spoke.